John William Staats

John W. “Jack” Staats, 89, of Jackson passed away Sunday, July 15, 2012. Visitation will be held at Wright and Ferguson on High Street on Tuesday, July 17, from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. Mr. Staats will be buried at Lakewood Memorial Park.

The son of Lucile and Paul Staats, he was born January 9, 1923. After graduating from Southwest High School, he attended the University of Kansas. He and his wife, Billie Giles Staats attended high school and college together. They married on November 28, 1947.

After serving in the United States Navy on the USS Nassau for four years during World War II, Mr. Staats returned to the University of Kansas to study architecture. He received his architecture degree in 1949.

Mr. and Mrs. Staats moved to Jackson in 1949, where he began his career with Drummond and Christian Architects. He started his own firm, John W. Staats AIA, in 1950, and he practiced architecture until his retirement in 2008. Even after his retirement, he continued to help people with plans for their building projects.

He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) of MS, and he served as president of AIA of MS. In 1949 he joined the Country Club of Jackson, where he enjoyed playing golf. He had been a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church since its inception.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Virginia Peterson and his daughter Helen Pinter. Surviving him are his wife Billie, his brother Stan Staats, his grandson Brian Nagel, his granddaughter Melanie Austin and her husband Rob and great-grandchildren Bethany and Samantha.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite charity.